2015-16 Pathways to Creativity Program is Sponsored By:

A Note From Jim Johnson, Ph.D.

Dear Educator,

Since its inception in 2008, Pathways to Creativity has presented performing arts experiences to 209,304 children from 322 schools. A total of 243 student matinee performances have been presented in that time.

That arts experiences and academic achievement go hand in hand is indisputable. At a time when arts education is being cut back in our schools, the Center is only too happy to provide young people with the much needed opportunities described in these pages.

Below you will find the Pathways to Creativity programs the Gallo Center
is offering for the 2015-2016 Season. They are for students at all grade levels,
K–12, including after school programs and prevention/issue-oriented young adult
programs. To participate in any of these events, please download your reservation
form from the link above.

SUSAN MARIE FRONTCZAK AS CLARA BARTON

In her previous appearances at the Center, the ever popular storyteller, actress
and scholar Susan Marie Frontczak has portrayed Madame Marie Curie as well as First
Lady Eleanor Roosevelt at different stages of her life. Now she returns as Clara
Barton, angel of the Civil War battlefield and the 23-year founder and president
of the American Red Cross. She called the American Red Cross her “child,” a delivery
requiring years of labor to accomplish.

Molly Bloom-Lately is the story of a third grade girl who, after being teased for
being small, must learn to not only stand up for but also believe in herself. Through
this heartfelt musical, we watch Molly learn what it means to be uniquely herself
and show that even the smallest among us have something to share. This show highlights
tools to effectively deal with a bullies by demonstrating positive ways for kids
to be themselves and to celebrate what makes each of us unique. Book and Lyrics by Ashleigh Catsos with music by Brian Ray Stearns.

BALLET FOLKLÓRICO DE MÉXICO DE AMALIA HERNÁNDEZ

Founded in 1952 by the revered Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folklórico de México is
quite simply the most honored ballet folklórico troupe in the world. The company
has received more than 200 awards and has appeared in more than 5,000 performances.
The music, dance and costumes of Mexican folklore, combined with the talent of their
artists, have resulted in icon status in Mexico and well-deserved international
acclaim.

MOMIX: ALCHEMIA

Brilliant choreographer Moses Pendleton presents "Alchemia," his new work for the
dazzling dancer-illusionists of Momix. It's all about the art of alchemy, and the
alchemy of art. Pendleton’s latest creation is an enchanting, phantasmagorical multimedia
spectacle full of invention, beauty, sensuality and humor. Pendleton manipulates
the four classic elements of earth, air, fire and water to produce a show full of
aesthetic thrills, surprising metamorphoses, and the sexuality of nature itself.
This is Momix at its most magical.

ROOM ON THE BROOM

The witch and her cat are flying happily on their broomstick – until a stormy wind
blows away the witch's hat, bow and wand. A helpful dog, bird and frog find the
witch's lost things, and they all hop on the broom for a ride. But this broomstick's
not meant for five and – CRACK – the broom snaps in two! When a hungry dragon appears,
who will save the poor witch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone?

SPOT GOES TO THE FARM

Together with Spot, students and their teachers will have a new adventure in the
theatre. Spot will take the audience to the farm of his father Sam, where all the
animals are lost. Spot and his friend Helen are going to need the help of the audience
to find all the animals and bring them back to the farm. Can everybody recognize
the sounds of the animals and help Spot and Helen to find them?

INHERIT THE WIND

From members of the same creative team that helped bring “To Kill a Mockingbird,”
“The Grapes of Wrath” and other classic dramas to life at the Gallo Center, it’s
Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee’s play, “Inherit the Wind.” This is a fictionalized
account of the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial, which resulted in John T. Scopes’ conviction
for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to a high school science class,
violating Tennessee law. The play depicts the intersection of statesman William
Jennings Bryan, attorney Clarence Darrow, Scopes, and writer/reporter H. L. Mencken.
Its contemporary resonance is underscored by the ongoing debate over creationism
versus evolution.

OPUS HANDBELL ENSEMBLE CHRISTMAS SHOW

Modesto’s own Opus Handbell Ensemble, founded in 1992 under the artistic direction
of Richard J. Colla, has more than 140 combined years of ringing experience. These
gifted musicians perform on a very unique instrument requiring precision eye-hand
coordination, music reading ability and a willingness to work as a team. Their repertoire
ranges from classical Bach to heavy metal Rock ‘n Roll to the holiday favorites
they will perform in this show!

THE STINKY CHEESE MAN & OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES

Poor Jack. He's got to use his wits to save himself from the terrible Giant, but
a host of familiar fairytale characters keep messing up his plans-and then there's
that annoying Stinky Cheese Man! The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales,
based on the hugely popular book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, deconstructs the
tradition of the fairy tale. Characters slide in and out of tales; Cinderella rebuffs
Rumpelstiltskin, and Goldilocks meets the Three Elephants. Nothing is quite the
same as you remember it in this delightful production from the esteemed Griffin
Theatre Company.

DR. ARTHUR BENJAMIN – MATH MAGIC

Dr. Arthur Benjamin is a Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont,
California. He is also a professional magician, and in this entertaining and fast-paced
performance, Dr. Benjamin will demonstrate how to mentally add and multiply numbers
faster than a calculator, how to figure out the day of the week of any date in history,
and other amazing feats of mind. He is winner of the national teaching award from
the Mathematical Association of America, and was listed by Princeton Review as one
America's Top 300 Professors.

From the moment his tall, red-and-white-striped hat appears at their door, Sally
and her brother know that the Cat in the Hat is the most mischievous cat they will
ever meet. Suddenly the rainy afternoon is transformed by the Cat and his antics.
Will their house ever be the same? Can the kids clean up before mom comes home?
With some tricks (and a fish) and Thing Two and Thing One, with the Cat in The Hat,
the fun's never done!

GIZMO GUYS

The Gizmo Guys have been performing for school audiences of the past 25 years. Their
show "Objects in Motion" combines world-class juggling skills and original routines
that amuse as well as amaze. The ideas of teamwork and cooperation, the importance
of physical activity, and the values of patience and practice are emphasized. Curriculum
links with math, science, and music are made throughout the show. Specific focus
is given to the study of patterns, center of gravity, inertia, and symmetry. Students
are urged to take part in participatory exercises that reinforce educational components.
Last, but not least... the show is fun!

STEVE TRASH – THE SCIENCE OF ECOLOGY

The newest production from Rockin' Eco Hero Steve Trash is another amazing educational
program where everyone in the audience is totally amazed and has lots of rockin'
fun. Designed for Grades K-6, kids learn how everything in nature is connected and
that trash is a valuable natural resource. They will learn how the water cycle works,
how the sun generates renewable energy and so much more. This absolutely, one of
a kind show features awesome green themed illusions made from "found object" trash
and is an excellent blend of eco-entertainment and eco-education.

TOYING WITH SCIENCE

Toying with Science is a fast-paced, varied and dynamic program. It combines circus
skills, mime, original music, and audience involvement in the exploration of the
scientific principles of gravity, leverage, fulcrums, and simple machines. Host
Garry Krinsky and his audience investigate basic scientific information and delve
into the imaginations of scientists who have played important roles in the exploration
and discovery of concepts that define our world. Garry invites kids to join him
on stage and participate in juggling or balancing activities with his playful guidance.
He impresses upon his audience the idea that by mastering simple scientific concepts,
one can produce terrific results.

THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT

In the much beloved tradition of Roald Dahl, we join two misfits on an unforgettable
odyssey. For a young orphan “human bean,” the sight of a giant outside her window
is terrifying, and she fears for her life when he whisks her away to an enchanted
land. This Big Friendly Giant (BFG) is not like other giants, however. The job of
this larger-than-life vegetarian is to blow magical dreams into children’s bedrooms.
Together they embark on a quest to save England from the “gizzard-gulping” giants
who don’t have the BFG’s tender heart. The cheeky BFG ultimately shows that heroes
can come in all sizes. Humongous on humor and large on laughs, the story of The
BFG was Roald Dahl's personal favorite. On stage, his whizzcracklingly wacky tale
comes to life with puppets and people creating a fantastical world of towering giants
and magical adventures.

THE SPIRIT OF HARRIET TUBMAN

Born into slavery in Maryland, Harriet Tubman not only ran away alone to escape
slavery, she returned to the south 19 times to lead more than 300 other slaves to
freedom in the northern United States and Canada. Her work as a nurse and a spy
during the Civil War was instrumental in helping the North defeat the South, thus
forcing the abolition of slavery in the United States. In this riveting portrayal
by actor-singer-dancer-teacher Leslie McCurdy, Tubman is brought to life in one
breathtaking hour! Leslie takes the audience through Ms. Tubman’s childhood, her
harrowing solo flight from slavery, her dedicated involvement with the Underground
Railroad, her victorious rescue mission during the civil war and her commitment
to others in her later years.

THE BLUE BIRD’S JOURNEY (EL PÁJARO AZUL)

“The Blue Bird’s Journey” (El Pájaro Azul) is a bilingual presentation of Mexico’s
rich cultural diversity that tells the story of the López family’s journey from
Southern México to the United States. With brief commentaries by a bilingual narrator
during the one-hour presentation, students learn about the López’s travels allegorized
by the migration of the blue bird to the north. The show is an opportunity to learn
about Mexico’s rich cultural diversity by making stops in many of its states and
discovering their local dances. At the end of the journey to the United States,
the blue bird and López family do two contemporary ballet folklorico pieces representing
their arrival in their new home.

LET’S GO SCIENCE SHOW ON THE GO

The wacky and talented Professor Smart and Dr. Knowitall join forces for an educational,
entertaining, exciting and experiential extravaganza. Professor Smart shrinks his
head, has toilet paper flying, juggles and has peoples’ hair standing on end all
while demonstrating principals of physics. Researcher and comedic sidekick Dr. Knowitall
keeps the facts straight. During the Let's Go Science Show you and your kids will
learn about air pressure, figure out flight, see awesome optical illusions, be shocked
by static electricity, see experiments with falling masses, grasp gyroscopic properties
and get a handle on the scientific method.

CHICKEN DANCE

ArtsPower’s newest musical portrays the colorful story of Marge and Lola, two barnyard
chickens on a mission to win the barnyard talent contest first prize of two tickets
to see the great Elvis Poultry in concert! But first, they must present a performance
that will score higher than a flock of very talented ducks that seem to have the
contest locked up. Can Marge and Lola face their challengers, against all odds,
and win the talent contest?

CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG™ – LIVE!

It only takes a little to BE BIG!™ The ‘big red dog,’ a character beloved for generations,
comes to life on stage in a BIG way in this all new musical! Join Clifford, Emily
Elizabeth and all their friends from Birdwell Island as they embark on fun-filled
adventures with singing, dancing and interactive fun. Share in the timeless values
of Clifford’s BIG Ideas: Share, Play Fair, Have Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible,
Be Truthful, Be Kind, Believe in Yourself, Be A Good Friend and Help Others – with
this musical experience the whole family will love!

Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy celebrates the power of imagination and promotes
a sense of adventure and exploration of the world around you. Inspired by the New
York Times Top 10 best-selling Children's Books with 14 titles and over 3.3 million
copies in print, this lively new musical “buzzes” with the inventive energy of childhood.
Lulu is disappointed that she is too little to play baseball with her big brother,
grabs her trusty sidekick, Bingo, the family dog, and goes off to the park, seeking
adventure. She meets up with her friends, Sam, Marley and Kiki and they morph into
the Bug Squad as Ladybug Girl, Bumblebee Boy, Dragonfly Girl and Butterfly Girl
fight the Mean Alien...or is that Lulu's brother? Imagination will triumph!

Somewhere near you there is a band of brothers fighting for justice. Seeking to
rid the land of evil and return hope to the poorly treated. Armed with whatever
comes their way, nothing is as it seems in this Sherwood Forrest, but one thing
is for sure, no rogue is safe! Performed by two actors, the play is a clever and
quirky take on the well-known legend, set in less of a Sherwood Forest and more
of a supermarket store room, an everyday place where a tale can be told and objects
can be reinvented. Playful, imaginative and fast paced, all the characters are there,
in one way or another, along with a host of cardboard boxes, shopping carts and
food . . . Bring your band of merry men and a smidgeon of imagination for an innovative
and surprising stage production of the famous tale.

In its 84th season, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra is proud to offer Carnegie Hall’s
year-long Link Up music education, composition and performance curriculum to our
area students grades three through five. This thoroughly researched, tested and
proven curriculum teaches children the fundamental concepts of music while building
their self-esteem and critical cognitive paths for continued success in education.
Students participating in the program perform in a culminating concert on March
13th , in which they sing and play recorders or string instruments with the orchestra
from their seats!